Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-08-20

case. He then delivers, In tones seldom heard be
hom1ly upon the depravity OF human nature, upon
the difcult road which justice has TO travel upon
the evils and sin OF wrong doing, and upon The
the municipality. He hts his homily, of course, to
the particular Jones who stands tp the dock or at
tn and
Judgment. Sometimes the amount OF the nne or
the length OF the term Of imprisonment Is stated
the case OF the more stereotsped forms OF crime,
such as yagrancy, drunkenness, DISORDER, &C, the
only indication OF sentence Is the phrase, ''The
much pulling, to escort the convicted offender To
the door leading to the stairway, which but a few
moments before he had climbed. He now goes
DOWN and waits in the cell until some OF his
lrlends VINO are almost sure to be watching in the
courtroom, make the necessary arrangements for
the payment OF the fine and his consequent re-
But sometimes John Jones IS not convicted.
Possioiy by technicaiity Of the law, or by flaw
the charge upon which he is tried. 1t may be that
there IS not even the shadow OF guilt, as Is occa
s1onay the case when John Is arrested through the
Judgment Is; 81 must dismiss the case, and with
glad heart the acquitted walks trlumphantly
from the courtroom, RECEIVERS his collateral Sc
relate how justice has conquered tyranny and
now ne has come on victorious.
THE DAILY ROUND.
Thus the day wears On with an Vpvary1ng round
OF crime There is no color lne whites and blacks
alike come under the scales, and the cOuntenance
Vctlon or acquittal; nor Is there such line in the
Oar, where 1t is common occurrence for white
attorney to defend q colored client, and just as
fendant OF the paer race Color is forgotten In the
hurry. These scenes that are continually passing
are not free from phases that appeal TO the sympa
Inetlc or the humorous nature OF the spectator.
Many q sad tale Is told from the witness stand,
taes mat bring forth tears to the eyes OF all that
Ieei for y, misery tales Of poverty Of disaPpont
mOrous side Is not absent and sometimes the dusty
walls fairly ring with merriment as Remus, or
testimony some comical individuality, which can
not be repressed even by the austerity OF the blind
goddess herself. And then the crier shows his dis
OF justice and shouts for silence. At times the
Judge does not disdi to take part In the mrth.
AZ times the dull monotony OF the day is further
relieved by lively tits between the counsel, who
are always ready to pick hole In an opponents
case. The Judge does not permit such scenes to
proceed beyond the bounds Of legal etiquette and
Is often called upon fguratvely to tear apart the
complaints as they stand and glarfngly hurl in
vectlves OF scorn upon each others heads. But
politeneSS.
CROWDED AND UNCOMFORTABLE.
The spectator who happens in for the first time
is usually impressed with the disagreeabe and in
sufficient accommodations that are afforded. The
witness rooms are close and dirty, the offfces
are awkward In their appointments the
cells, In which sometimes the prisoners are kept
all day long. are small and without ventilation.
At times particularly on Monday morning, which
is called the busiest day OF the week, these little
boxes are hlled TO suffocation and IL is probably
the tough nature OF the deniZens that saves them
from destruction. The court room, while large, Is
not arranged to the best advantage, the Judge
being placed back In an alcove where it is with
dln1culty that he manages TO hear the testimony
the dock Is far to one side and unless the prisoner
mas lawyer to hear and talk for him he Is often
In total ignorance OF the Information offered
against him.
THE COURT FEVER
But few OF the witnesses who appear In the
Police Court escape touch OF what might be
termed "the court fever" that is 1t Is but seldom
the case that person who has been there once is
not 1mbued with an Rnconquerable desire TO re-
peat his visit. Some have been known to become
regular lOuDgers as far as their time will allow, In
the court room, and occasionally there are seen
faces that seem to indicate in the person morbid
curiosity. almost verglng on monomania, to at
tend and witness the daily spectacle OF the admin
iStratiOn OF Police Court justice.
1t IS curious to watch the faces OF the prisoners
as they appear In the dock Some OF the spectators
have at times even gone so far as to bet with one
another as to the complexion OF the next re-
spondenL